Smart Talk

Smart Talk is a daily, live, interactive program featuring conversations with newsmakers and experts in a variety of fields and exploring a wide range of issues and ideas, including the economy, politics, health care, education, culture, and the environment. Smart Talk airs live every week day at 9 a.m. on WITF’s 89.5 and 93.3.

Smart Talk: Alzheimer's and the state's action plan

Medical science has made extraordinary progress in fighting and eradicating diseases over the past 50 years. For example, new ways to detect and treat cancer and heart disease have saved lives.

Unfortunately, Alzheimer's and related diseases are exceptions. We know much more about the diseases that affect the brain than just a few short years ago. But between 2000 and 2010, deaths from Alzheimer's increased 68% while deaths from other major diseases decreased.

Alzheimer's disease is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that can't be prevented, cured or even slowed.

There are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer's or a related disease and 400,000 of them are Pennsylvanians.

It's estimated that by the year 2050, there could be 16 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer's.

There are many more sobering statistics.

Those suffering from Alzheimer's aren't just numbers. They're people who have lost life-long memories, the ability to care for themselves and often their dignity.

Their families and loved ones feel the heartbreak and are often left providing the care.

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